OAKLAND – It’s a sad day for the Giants family. Legendary hitter Willie McCovey, who totaled 521 home runs in his illustrious career, and was constantly around AT&T Park in recent years, died today.
Tonight, the Warriors take on the New Orleans Pelicans, and while the news is neither related to the NBA or the Warriors specifically, McCovey was a legend and steward of the Bay Area sports culture. He took the field as a rookie for the Giants in their second San Francisco season in 1959, and in combination with Willie Mays, he spurred an era of long-ball consistency typified by the Giants’ “Bye, Bye, Baby” anthem.
Before tonight’s Warriors’ game, head coach Steve Kerr, a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, was asked about McCovey’s passing.
“Willie McCovey represents a major figure from my childhood,” Kerr said. “Hearing Vin Scully talk about Willie McCovey and the Dodger-Giants rivalry. Obviously, I’m well-aware of how beloved Willie was here in the Bay Area and the Giants family, so we extend our condolences to Willie’s family and the Giants family and everybody here from the Warriors is thinking about them tonight.”
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